Chapter 38: Mother-in-law Looks at Daughter-in-law, and They Hit It Off

The doorbell rang.

Thinking it was her own parents, she opened the door to find a charming young girl standing there with her hands behind her back.

Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, the girl pinched the soft flesh at his waist with all her might.

“Hiss, what are you doing?!” Li Mu winced in pain, his eyes widening as he tensed his muscles to alleviate the discomfort.

Lu Xiaoxi was really strong today; in the past, her pinches were just playful, but this time it truly hurt.

Whoever marries him will have a good time.

“You’re the one acting crazy; who told you to make me angry?” Lu Xiaoxi said irritably, clapping her hands to dispel the anger she had built up because of Li Mu since last night.

Let’s just let him off the hook this time.

“Hiss… I’m definitely going to have bruises; you must pay me.”

“I have no money, and I won’t give my life!”

“Anyway, you have to compensate me with something; otherwise, I’ll tell your mom.”

“Thick-skinned… then what do you want me to compensate you with?” Lu Xiaoxi looked at Li Mu, who was holding his waist, his eyes still wide, as if he was really in pain, and she began to doubt whether she had truly hurt him, feeling a surge of regret.

After all, it was the Mid-Autumn Festival; she shouldn’t be so heavy-handed.

“Let me think; I’ll tell you once I come up with something.” Li Mu grinned, revealing a set of big white teeth; this kind of cheeky smile was something only Lu Xiaoxi had seen.

“Can it be like this?” Lu Xiaoxi laughed in anger; she knew this guy had no good intentions, and all his actions and expressions were just for show.

“I think if you practice for two and a half years, you’ll definitely be better than those young fresh meat.”

“Of course, those young fresh meat can’t compare to my handsomeness.”

“I meant acting!” Lu Xiaoxi didn’t refute his words.

“You’re right; if I enter the entertainment industry, I’ll definitely be a superstar.”

“…… Fine, fine, fine, you’re the best, okay?”

This guy was really good with words, and Lu Xiaoxi had no way to deal with him. “Anyway, you have to come up with something before tomorrow; otherwise, I won’t wait.”

“Okay, but don’t go back on your word.”

“If I can’t afford it, then I won’t pay.”

“Come in; how can I teach you to make lanterns if you’re standing outside?” Li Mu had already returned to the sofa to get busy. When he looked up, he saw the girl still standing at the door, looking confused.

Lu Xiaoxi peeked around but didn’t see Uncle Li or Aunt Su.

If there were other people here, she would have stepped in without hesitation, but since it was just Li Mu, she felt a bit hesitant.

It was as if she and Li Mu had a very good relationship, allowing them to enter each other’s homes freely.

Taking a deep breath, Lu Xiaoxi kept reminding herself that she was just going in to make lanterns, as a neighbor…

When she stepped through the door, it felt like a barrier had been broken, and her nervousness suddenly vanished.

She squatted down beside the sofa, picked up a piece of red paper, and began folding it like Li Mu.

“I’ll fold it for you again; just watch my hands.”

“Oh, okay.”

The two of them busied themselves by the sofa.

Lu Xiaoxi was always clumsy and struggled with folding paper.

In contrast, Li Mu was much more skillful; eventually, he just folded the paper while Lu Xiaoxi used scissors to cut along the creases.

“You seem to be really good at this.”

In her memory, Li Mu had been good at making paper crafts since childhood. In elementary school, he would fold paper into nails to scratch her face and could even fold paper into really cool fighter jets; in her eyes back then, Li Mu was capable of anything.

Every time Li Mu made these things, she would shout for him to make one for her, and if he didn’t, she would cry and throw a tantrum until he finally gave in.

So embarrassing!

She must not let Li Mu remember these things.

Lu Xiaoxi was lost in thought and accidentally cut a bit crookedly; she peeked at Li Mu, afraid he would call her an idiot again.

But to her surprise, Li Mu didn’t scold her; he just glanced at her hand and handed her the paper he had just folded.

“Do you think I won first place in the kindergarten craft competition just by chance?”

“Cut it out; I was second place back then.”

“…… If I remember correctly, I helped you with that, right?”

“Can you fold a thousand paper cranes?” Lu Xiaoxi quickly changed the subject.

“That question is like asking a college student if they can solve the chicken and rabbit problem.”

“Then fold one for me; I want it in red paper.”

“Wait a moment.” Li Mu quickly folded and then took a piece of red paper to cut it into a square.

It had been a long time since he folded a thousand paper cranes, and he felt a bit rusty, getting stuck on many steps.

Oh no, how do you do the chicken and rabbit problem again?

Fortunately, he managed to fold the thousand paper cranes in the end, but after so many trial and error, there were extra creases in many places, making it less than perfect.

The paper was quite large, and the thousand paper crane was also quite big; holding the palm-sized red crane in her hands, Lu Xiaoxi felt both happy and amused, her eyes slightly squinted, a smile on her lips, gentle as water.

The red thousand paper crane symbolized good luck; she always believed in these things, just like how the dog tooth bracelet she gave Li Mu symbolized turning misfortune into good fortune.

The affection in her eyes was about to overflow.

“Is it okay? Do you like it?” Li Mu raised an eyebrow.

“It’s barely acceptable.”

“Two dollars each.”

“?”

“Isn’t the labor fee free? Lu Xiaoxi, you’re not trying to get it for free, are you?”

“Did you drop money in your eyes?”

Li Mu didn’t really want to collect money; he just wanted to see the cute expression Lu Xiaoxi made when she frowned, and she really looked adorable when she did.

“Hurry up and cut; look at how many have piled up.”

Li Mu was much faster with his hands; his paper folding speed was significantly quicker than Lu Xiaoxi’s cutting speed, and in no time, there was quite a pile of paper on Lu Xiaoxi’s side.

Before Lu Xiaoxi could say anything, the front door opened.

“Ah, Xiaoxi came to play with Li Mu!” The one who opened the door was Su Wen, and upon entering, she saw Lu Xiaoxi and her son sitting together, almost bursting into laughter.

“You really are something; Xiaoxi came to find you, and you didn’t even think to bring something to entertain her.” Su Wen looked at her son, feeling exasperated.

“Lu Xiaoxi is on a diet.” Li Mu felt like he wasn’t her biological son; why was his mom’s elbow always pointing outward?

It made it seem like he was bullying Lu Xiaoxi.

“Is Xiaoxi really on a diet?” Su Wen asked in disbelief. Lu Xiaoxi’s figure was already great; how many girls would envy that?

Lu Xiaoxi’s face turned red at the comment; her figure was so good, why would she need to diet?

Ignoring Li Mu’s teasing glances, Lu Xiaoxi pursed her lips and shook her head.

“Hey, hey, hey, did you see? Go wash the fruit and bring it out.” Su Wen pointed her chin towards the kitchen.

Li Mu had nothing to say; he got up and went to the kitchen to get some fruit.

He felt like he had lost his place in this family.

He turned on the faucet, rinsed the fruit, and then used the faucet to wash it in the basin, occasionally hearing the voices of the two women.

Glancing at the living room, he had no idea what his mom and Lu Xiaoxi were chatting about, but they were laughing and having a good time.

It was truly a mother-in-law looking at her daughter-in-law, and they hit it off…

If Lu Xiaoxi really married into the family, Li Mu felt like his good days would come to an end.

……

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